Pataki cites ongoing EPA studies in vetoing creosote bill

Gov. George Pataki has vetoed a bill that would have barred the use of creosote to treat wood and prohibited the burning of wood treated with creosote except in facilities approved by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The law would have taken effect on Jan. 1, 2007.

Pataki said the legislation was premature because the federal Environmental Protection Agency is continuing to study the health effects of creosote on humans. The federal agency says it will decide by the end of 2006 whether to re-classify creosote as a restricted-use pesticide.

The legislation vetoed by Pataki would have exempted creosote-treated wood used for railroad ties by transit companies or creosote-treated light polls used by utilities. Pataki said sponsors of the bill improved the legislation he also vetoed in 2004 by exempting railroad ties, but that his fundamental objections remained in light of the continuing EPA study of creosote.